FOR THE STUDENTS: UCSI students under the MAD project with the principal of SJK (C) Peng Ming (in yellow).

FRIENDS: UCSI student volunteers (in black) with their ‘adopted’ siblings from SJK (C) Peng Ming.

A HELPING HAND: To inspire the students of SJK (C) Peng Ming to further their education, UCSI University conceptualised the Make a Difference project.

SJK (C) Peng Ming – the first school involved in UCSI’s Make a Difference project.

HAPPY: The students of SJK (C) Peng Ming enjoying themselves during the Make a Difference project.

SELANGOR: UCSI University has recently initiated the Make a Difference (MAD) project where a group of its students ‘adopted’ some primary school children to help them understand the importance of education and engage the community through the spirit of volunteerism. The project kicked-off with a four-day three-night camp at SJK (C) Peng Ming in Kuala Langat, Selangor. 

Themed “Sail away, achieve your dreams” the camp was enthusiastically participated by 30 UCSI students and 80 primary students of SJK (C) Peng Ming. Each university student ‘adopted’ or took under his or her wing, a few primary school students with the intention of being their confidante for any education related enquiries. 

The camp served as a starting point where both university and primary school students could get to know each other and establish a bond. To ensure a long term connection even after the camp was over, the former is supposed to consistently follow up with their adopted sibling/s by organising other activities for them. 

In addition to helping the primary school children familiarise themselves with the notion of furthering their education, the camp also focused on developing other useful skills. This ranged from computer skills to internet ethics such as coping with and preventing cyber bullying as well as independence and critical thinking. 

According to Ms Ooi Pei Boon, Senior Director, Student Affairs and Alumni Division who attended the event on behalf of UCSI, this entire project provided an invaluable experience for both parties. 

“When it comes to an education, there are lessons that cannot be taught in a classroom. These include leadership, communication, and time-management, which are all important in climbing the career ladder.” 

She added that she was also proud of the UCSI students who had undergone a series of intensive training for the programme since March. 

To ensure that the message on the important of education was also disseminated to other rural schools and villagers nearby, the UCSI students also set up an education exhibition before the camp. 

Next year, 12 members of this batch of MAD project student facilitators will train a new group of their university mates to be the adopted siblings to another group of primary school students.